Overall, adult crime rates unaffected by terror attacks

Published 8:00 pm, Tuesday, September 10, 2002

"I think it will be business as usual," with increased patriotism and appreciation, said Chief James St. Louis of the Midland Police Department.

Crime did not rise in the city after the attacks occurred.

"Since Sept. 11, it appears that our crime is down," St. Louis said, adding he could not link the quietness to Sept. 11.

"I really don't know" if the quiet was because of the attacks, he said. He believes the event made people reflect on life and show a tinge of patience toward one another.

Crime in the county also was stagnant after the attacks, said Capt. James McCandless of the Midland County Sheriff's Office.

"I think people were just overwhelmed," he said.

Midland County Prosecuting Attorney Norm Donker said there was a 12 percent decrease in crime in September 2001 when compared to September 2000. The decrease was seen in all categories of crimes, as "people hunkered down for a few days."

McCandless said he does not expect a rise in crime on the anniversary date.

The one-year marker will be filled with memorials to emergency response workers, and the Midland County Sheriff's Office is being inundated with notices of memorial services at local churches.

Meanwhile, probate court saw an increase in cases in the months following the tragedy.

Judge Dorene Allen compared the three months after the date to the same time frame the year before. She wondered about the increase since she was new to the bench.

In her annual report, she states the increase turned out to be about 50 percent above the previous time frame's caseload, mostly because of involuntary petitions to mental health.

Involuntary petitions involve people who are a danger to themselves or others who are assigned to psychiatric units for help.

"I think people felt vulnerable," she said.

Now Playing:

Allen said she believes that the attacks were too much for people who already were on the edge of not being able to cope. The attacks also opened Midland's eyes to the idea that national events do have impact here, she said.

"It was amazing — I did not expect it to have the large impact that it did," she said.